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SAMPLE PROBLEM #15:

A distillation column with a total condenser and a partial


reboiler is separating an ethanol-water mixture. The feed
is 20 mole % ethanol, feed rate is 1000 kmoles/hr, and
feed temperature is 80˚F, at which feed enthalpy is 25
Btu/lb (enthalpy of saturated vapor = 880 Btu/lb; enthalpy
of saturated liquid = 125 Btu/lb).
A distillate composition of 80 mole % ethanol and a
bottoms composition of 2 mole % ethanol are desired.
The external reflux ratio is 5/3. The reflux is returned as a
saturated liquid and constant molal overflow can be
assumed.
Find the optimum feed plate location, the total number of
equilibrium stages required, the minimum reflux ratio, and
the number of stages at total reflux.
Pressure is 1 atm. Equilibrium data are as follows:

x ethanol x water y ethanol y water T, °C


0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 100.00
0.0190 0.9810 0.1700 0.8300 95.50
0.0721 0.9279 0.3891 0.6109 89.00
0.0966 0.9034 0.4375 0.5625 86.70
0.1238 0.8762 0.4704 0.5296 85.30
0.1661 0.8339 0.5059 0.4911 84.10
0.2377 0.7663 0.5445 0.4555 82.70
0.2608 0.7392 0.5580 0.4420 82.30
0.3273 0.6727 0.5826 0.4174 81.50
Continuation…..

x ethanol x water y ethanol y water T, °C


0.3965 0.6035 0.6122 0.3878 80.70
0.5079 0.4921 0.6564 0.3436 79.80
0.5198 0.4802 0.6599 0.3401 79.70
0.5732 0.4268 0.6841 0.3159 79.30
0.6763 0.3237 0.7385 0.2615 78.74
0.7472 0.2528 0.7815 0.2185 78.41
0.8943 0.1057 0.8943 0.1057 78.15
1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 78.30
SOLUTION:
Step 1: Diagram Total Condenser

Lo DISTILLATE
FEED Distilling xD = 0.8
1000 kgmol/h Column R = 5/3
80°F
h = 25 Btu/lb 1atm
xF = 0.2
H sat vap = 880 Btu/lb
H sat liq = 125 Btu/lb BOTTOMS
xB= 0.02
Partial Reboiler
Step 2: Rectifying operating line

xxD 00.8.8
D  00.3.3

RR11 553311

xxD 00.8.8
y-intercept = D  00.3.3

RR11 55 3311
Step 3: Feed line
 Feed is subcooled liquid
 since hF = 25 < H sat liq = 125

HHsat vap hhF 880


88025
25  1.13
qq sat vap F   1.13
HHsat vap hhsat liq 880  125
880  125
sat vap sat liq

qq 11.13
.13  8.55
 f-line slope    8.55
qq11 11.13  1
.13  1
Step 4: McCabe-Thiele diagram
Benzene-Toluene System
1

0.8
Subcooled
liquid
0.6
12
y
0.4
nF,opt = 12
0.2 N = 14.4
xB xF xD
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
x
Step 5: Nmin
Benzene –Toluene System
1

0.8

0.6
y
0.4
Nmin = 6.8
0.2
xB xF xD
0
0 0.2 0.4 x 0.6 0.8 1
Step 6: Rmin
Benzene-Toluene System
1

0.8

0.6
y
0.4
y-int for Rm = 0.38
0.2
xB xF xD
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
x
y-int of rectifying operating line

xD
y-intercept =
R+1

0.8
0.38 =
Rm + 1

Rm = 1.1

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